Lakers hold on for win despite hobbled Bryant

Saturday

Mar 16, 2013 at 12:20 AMMar 16, 2013 at 3:20 AM

INDIANAPOLIS — Kobe Bryant lasted just one quarter on a severely sprained left ankle, then watched Dwight Howard complete a go-ahead, three-point play with 90 seconds left to help Los Angeles hold off Indiana 99-93 on Friday.

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Kobe Bryant lasted just one quarter on a severely sprained left ankle, then watched Dwight Howard complete a go-ahead, three-point play with 90 seconds left to help Los Angeles hold off Indiana 99-93 on Friday.

Bryant started two nights after he was hurt but was ineffective. He went 0 for 4 in the first quarter, then went to the bench and did not return. He spent the second half holding a black box with wires running down to the injured ankle as he cheered on the Lakers (35-32).

At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Russell Westbrook added 23 to help Oklahoma City keep up its dominant play at home with a victory over Orlando.

The Thunder scored a season-high 73 points in the first half, shooting 64 percent from the floor and converting 18 of 22 free throws. Oklahoma City led by 27 in the second quarter before Orlando pulled to 73-56 at the break.

Rockets 108, Timberwolves 100

At Houston, James Harden scored 37 points, Jeremy Lin had 24 and Houston rallied from 20 points down in the third quarter to beat Minnesota.

Harden also grabbed seven rebounds and handed out eight assists for the Rockets, who stayed two games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers in the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference.

Derrick Williams and Jose Barea scored 19 points apiece for the Timberwolves, who led 59-39 early in the third quarter. The Rockets held Minnesota to only 16 field goals the rest of the way.

Hawks 107, Suns 94

At Atlanta, Josh Smith made a strong return to Atlanta's lineup with 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, and the Hawks led by double figures throughout the final period of a victory over Phoenix.

Smith returned to Atlanta's lineup after missing one game with a sprained left knee. All five starters scored in double figures, with Al Horford adding 16 points and 11 rebounds.

At Oakland, Calif., Luol Deng scored 23 points, Carlos Boozer had 21 points and nine rebounds, and Chicago bounced back from its most lopsided loss of the season to whip Golden.

Two nights after a 121-79 shellacking at Sacramento that renewed calls for Derrick Rose's return, the Bulls outscored the Warriors 38-17 in the third quarter to snap a season-high, five-game road losing streak.

Nate Robinson added 20 points and seven assists, while Joakim Noah finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago, which had lost four of five overall.

Nuggets 87, Grizzlies 80

At Denver, Kosta Koufos scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds, helping Denver rally to beat Memphis for its 11th straight victory, their longest streak in 30 years.

Danilo Gallinari had 15 points, including two free throws to break a tie with just over two minutes remaining, as the Nuggets won their 15th in a row at home.

Zach Randolph had a big game with 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who had their six-game winning streak halted.

Mavericks 96, Cavaliers 86

At Dallas, Rodrigue Beaubois scored 18 points off the bench and keyed a fourth-quarter run to lead Dallas past Cleveland.

Beaubois had seven points and two assists in a 17-4 run that gave Dallas the lead for good to start the fourth.

Wizards 96, Hornets 87

At Washington, John Wall put on a rare shooting show, scoring a season-high 29 points and matching his career high with three 3-pointers and Washington ran its home winning streak to four.

Wall went 12 for 15 from the field, including 3 for 3 from 3-point range, displaying an outside touch that's been mostly absent since he was chosen No. 1 overall in the 2010 draft. He entered Friday's game just 3 for 20 from 3-point range for the season, and he was a mere 3 for 42 last season.

Joey Dorsey was the last Toronto player to record 20 rebounds, doing it April 11, 2011, at Milwaukee.

Sebastian Telfair scored 11 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 10 as the Raptors won for just the third time in 10 games. They host Miami on Sunday. Gerald Henderson, coming off a career-best, 35-point performance in the Bobcats' 100-74 victory over Boston on Tuesday, scored 22 points. Kemba Walker added 20, and Ben Gordon and Josh McRoberts each had 10 for Charlotte.